Autumn lives in Kamloops, Canada, but spends the school breaks learning about traditional native culture with her grandma. She loves to read and express herself through creative writing and drawing. She hopes to focus her studies on psychology and humanities, while she continues with her passion for writing.

Bailey Schaeffer

Bailey was raised in Arctic bush Alaska, and now resides in the small community of Willow, where she lives a largely subsistence lifestyle. As a dog musher, Bailey spends much of her time training for prestigious events like the Junior Iditarod, and has participated in international meetings on the preservation of dog mushing culture. She also has a strong interest in climate change from the perspective of an outdoors-person, as it pertains to impacts to lifestyle.

Emma Apitzsch

Emma grew up farming in Texas, and moved to the rural Alaska town of Talkeetna in 2015. She transferred her hands-on skills with handling animals to handling airplanes, and is now training to be both an airplane mechanic and bush pilot. Emma is very interested in mechanics, metal-working, and the physics of flight, and acts as both a student and an instructor in her community Build-a-Plane project.

Jamie Yerkes

Jamie lives in Nikiski, Alaska and is passionate about nature and art, especially painting. She also plays on the varsity volleyball team at her school. Last summer, Jamie turned an old shed behind her house into a fully functional greenhouse and grew vegetables. She wants to explore the connections between science, art, and nature in the context of landscapes in Alaska.

Melanie Sexton

Originally from California, Melanie moved to rural Nikiski, Alaska at the age of 9, and has since been exploring the Kenai Peninsula through her strong interest in outdoor activities like hiking. She volunteers extensively in her community through her church and youth group, and is drawn to the biomedical sciences, which she aspires to study in college.

Sarah Gonzalez

Sarah is from San Diego, California. She is passionate about music and medicine, and she plays on her school’s badminton team. She aspires to be a traveling nurse where she can learn about different cultures while also helping others. Sarah is a low-income student and has developed a deep strength and determination from overcoming the many challenges she has faced in life.

Maya Brennan

Maya lives in Mill Creek, Washington, and divides her time between school work for her honors classes, playing the piano and swim practice. Maya loves to write fiction, crafting fantastic creatures with unique cultures and habitats. She wants to pursue a career in science where she can bring together her creative writing skills and her passion for the environment.

Robyn Ludecker

Robyn is originally from Kaltag and now lives in Fairbanks. From a young age, Robyn learned to express herself through her native song and dance, and has recently developed a strong interest in essay writing. Robyn wants to study to become a nurse and return to Fairbanks so she can live immersed in her native culture. She has a passion for the outdoors and wants to develop her outdoor skills as she continues to explore the state.

Katrina Kanrilak

Katrina is a Native Alaskan from Tununak, AK. Katrina is well rounded, with diverse interests and a keen desire to challenge herself. She plays guitar and can build furniture for her house, and she is the captain of her basketball team. Katrina further brings a depth of experience to the team with her time spent traveling in the Alaskan tundra.